The Way You Flush the Toilet Can Contribute to Your Acne – Here’s How

You wash your face every morning, religiously abiding by a detailed skincare routine in hopes of achieving flawless, clear skin.

While it might seem like you’re doing everything right, you just can’t seem to clear up your acne. What you might not know is that a hidden enemy could be lurking in your bathroom—your open toilet lid when you flush the toilet!

TikTok creators have been discussing the connections between what seemed like an insignificant habit to a common skincare woe: acne.

@drcharlesmd1

Theres 💩 on your face towels. Close the lid. #acne #lifehacks #skincare

♬ original sound – uhtato

We dive into the science behind these claims, uncovering how a simple, often mindless habit can significantly impact your fight for clear skin.

How the Way You Flush the Toilet Contributes to Your Acne

When you flush the toilet with the lid open, the power of the flush aerosolises particles in the bowl, dispersing a plume of tiny particles that can travel through the air.

These particles can contain bacteria that could cause acne, folliculitis, and other skin infections when they land on you.

Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there! Some of these microscopic organisms are as small as micrometres and can’t be seen with the naked eye.

Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder used lasers to illuminate and capture the movement of these tiny water droplets. The results show that these droplets can move at two metres per second and can go as high as 1.5 metres above the toilet bowl in just eight seconds.

They describe these plumes as exhibiting “strong, jet-like behaviour” and flowing through space in a way that is “surprisingly energetic and chaotic.”

Some of the smallest water droplets can linger in the air for a few minutes! If this is true, you are essentially spreading these bacteria across your bathroom every time you flush the toilet without shutting the lid.

A Dermatologist’s Differing Opinion

Some creators seem to disagree with this speculation. TikTok account @facethefuture explains that acne is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that does not occur because of bacteria.

Dermatologist Joyce (@dr.mehss on TikTok) agrees with this notion. She shares that the bacteria in our excretion is very different from the bacteria that could cause acne on our faces.

If acne were caused by a bacteria, it would be P. acnes or fungus, not pathogens like E. coli, adenovirus or norovirus.

Nonetheless, she urges everyone to close their lids every time they flush the toilet to prevent other bacteria and viruses from spewing into the air.

Studies have also shown that closing the lid before flushing can reduce the spread of these airborne particles by up to 50%.

Regardless of whether these tiny particles contribute to acne, we know we’re definitely closing the lid before every flush, no matter how clean our toilet bowl is!

Featured image credits: Miriam Alonso/Pexels, @motherboardvice/TikTok